Endless chain of counting relays



Nov. 13, 1951 l J. I. BELLAMY ENDLESS CHAIN OF COUNTING RELAYS original Filed Feb. 23, 1946 INVENTORI Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENDLESS CHAIN OF COUNTIN G RELAYS John I. Bellamy, Wheaton, Ill.,'assignor to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, lOhicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original-application February 23, 1946, Serial No.

649,595. Divided and this application Decem- .vber 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,802

lThis. invention relates to an endless chain of lcounting relays. .Its principal object is to provide a new and improved circuit arrangement for such a chain of relays, employing a minimum of contacts and insuring positive and reliable operafIhis'application is aldivision of my prior applicationiorSelector Switching Systems, Serial No.f649p95; sied February 23, 194c,.now Patent GENERAL DESCRIPTION I Initheparent'applicationeach of a number of v1 'group :controllers employs the endless counting chain of .this application as a choice allotter. fAnyfsuoh allotter is arranged to equalize the ofu i'ered `tre'ullc amongiequivalent subgroups of con- .nection paths by vshifting vfrom one choice com- .Sbination to the next succeeding one "after each fuse :of Vthefvgroup controller.

:Anendless counting chain according to the rpresentinvention'is sofarranged that the countin'grelaysoperate 'fromrst to last'in a progresfsivewave-like f motion wherein the relay immediately preceding anynewly operated one is'held operated and the one immediately preceding it is f'released `Uponoperationof the last counting frelay, the rstfoneis rendered reoperablefor the next cycle.

lOneffeatureconcerns' a'pair Vof even and odd driver relays, common tothe counting relays of the chain,` which are held operated by residual "magnetism 'and-restored by reversed magnetic ""i'orce. to simplify their arrangement or control contacts. 4- Aieature of the counting chain herein disfclos'e'd resides in the arrangement whereby any relay' preceding the last is held operated when *the next succeeding 'relay is operated, thereby maintaining the operating circuit of such succeeding'relay'instact. A special feature of the l invention isthat any such relay is held operated within the operating circuit of the next succeeding relay to promotefgeneral"contact-pair economy.

VAnother feature of the disclosed counting chain resides in the provision of a recycling or cutoi relay for the rst -countingrelay to render unnec- 'essa'ry the" usual'back-contact chain through contacts of the remaining counting relays. Related special'features ofthe invention include (l) controlling the cutoi relay through contacts of concernedcounting relays, and `(2,) *avoiding use or" "additional contacts forthis purpose-by including 'thel'winding of the'cuto relay IWithintheo'peratn ing circuit of concerned ones ofthe counting relays.

Other objects and features ofthe invention-Will become apparent as the description progresses.

lo l

.iirst counting relay 12| stands-operated and all The drawings The accompanying drawing comprises aschematic circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment :of the improvedendless chain of counting relays.

The. counting relays 12| to '|30include doublewound coils,.ernploying one of the windingsas a vlocking .circuit .rather than having additional locking contacts.

.The cutoff relay TZUisinthebattery-supply .circuit of all counting relays preceding thelast,

ratherthan being controlled by. its ownseparate .circuit contacts.

The driver relays 'H8 and 'H9 are residualstick relays which provide the desired sequential operation With. a minimum of contacts.

Detailed' description The invention having been described generally, a detailed description will now be given.

Endless chain of counting relays The `endless counting `chain comprising `the thirteenrelays H8 vto '130 includes counting relays i2! to '130 arranged to'count the operations oistart relay 'l0 I Vin cycle groups 'of ten. As' used in .the parent application, its purpose as previously noted, is to shift rst choice amongsecond- 'ary subgroups, 4being the .onesfto which -wires lA The .counting relays 12|-to 130 are controlled by driver relays H8 and 'H9. Cutoi relay V72D is employed to disconnect relay `'12| afterit operates .andto holdit disconnected untila new .cycle of counting operations. is aboutto begin.

.The counting. chain isy illustrated in the first of its ten positions, position A. `In that position the other counting relays arerestored.

- Controlrelays armature l(not shown).

As described in my noted parent application,

. each other.

armature 3 thereof open-circuits the'upper wind-` ing of relay 1|8 and closes a circuit for relay 1|9. Because of its residual holding construction (as by being supplied with ,a hard-steel armature instead of one of soft iron), relay 1| 8 remains in operated condition after the circuitof its up"` The lower winding -of relay 1|8 is not en'- Choice position A With relay 120 in its restored condition, as it'- is at the beginning of each cycle of operations of counting relays 12| to 130, and with relay 1|8 in its illustrated operated condition, the lower winding of relay 12| is energized over odd conductor 136, and through contacts of the unoperated relay 120. Relay 12| thereupon assumes its illustrated operated condition. At its contacts I and 2, it allots first choice to the hereinbefore noted associated secondary subgroup A by connectingconductors 133 and 134 respectively to wires 2A and IA, odd conductors 133 and 134 being currently connected to the common test and switch conductors through the front contacts of armatures I and 2 respectively -of relays 1|8, while even conductors 13| and 132 per winding is opened.` Accordingly; the lower winding of relay 1|9 remains short-circuited at contacts 3 uof relay 1|8', resulting in the energization of the upper winding of relay 1I9, alone.

Y rl'he upper winding beingenergized alone, relay 1|9 operates andA connects the lower winding of relay 1|8 in parallel with the upper winding thereof, in preparation for its restoration.

` When start relay 10| next restores, it open- The two windings of this relay are differentially connected, as' indicated. Moreover, the lower Y windinggof relay1| 8 is slightly more powerful than the'upper winding thereof, resulting in a mild reversedA magnetomotive force. This reversed magnetornotive force is sufficient to overcome the,- residual magnetization of the relay,

whereby relay 1 |8 now restores, but the reversed magnetization isinsuflicient to cause reoperation A of relay 1|8. Y

Upon'the next ensuing operation of start relay 10|, relay. 1| 8 is open-circuited and remains in restored condition.

' With relay 1|8in restored condition, and with I start relay 10| -in 'operated condition, the two windings of'relay 1|9 are energized in series with cient to reoperate it. Relay l1|9 accordingly now Y restores. Relays 1|8 and 1|9 are thus both now operate successively and restore successively in successive cycles o f two startrelay operations each. Relay 1| 8 accordingly assumes its illustrated operated position in the interval preceding each odd-numbered operation of the start relay,

andA assumes its restored condition in the interval preceding each even-numbered operation of the start relay. f

Counting-relay operation Driver relay .1|8, through the medium of conductors136 and 131, causes relays 12| to 130 to operate successively in recurring cycles as will nowbe explained. i

Under this condition, the upper r winding somewhat more than over-balances the lower winding, causing a mild reversed magnetif zation suiiicient to restorethe relay, but insuffistand open at the back contacts of these armatures.

At its armature 3, relay 12| prepares an operating circuit for relay 122 and a' holdingcircuit for itself, subject-to the restoration ofrelay 1|8.

Choice position B When relay 1|8 next restores, it disconnects ground from odd conductor 136 and applies-i ground to even conductors 131. At the same timef it disconnects odd conductors 133 and 134 and substitutes even conductors 13| and 132'.`

Armature 4 of relay 1|8 and its associated cori-f tacts comprise a make-before-break arrange-A ment whereby there is a slight overlap interval during which conductors 136 and 131 are both grounded when relay 1|8 restores `or operates. Accordingly, while the ungroun'ding of conductors 136 open-circuits the lower winding Vofgrelay 12|, the grounding of conductor 131 previously closes a holding circuit for the' upper winding thereof, which circuit includes contacts 3 of the operated relay 12|, the lower (or operating) winding of relay 122, and the winding-of relay 120. vRelay 12| is held operated over this circuit to maintain the circuit of relay 122'intact. Relay 120 operates over this circuit, and as will subsequently appear, remains-operated thereafter until near the end of the cycle of operations of relay 12| to 130. Relay 120 disconnects the operate winding of relay 12| from odd.

conductor 136 so as to prevent further energiza tion thereof until a new allotting cycle begins.

Relay 122 now operates, through its lower winding, and relay 12| remains temporarily op-f erated. With relay 1|8 restored to substitute' even conductors 13| and 132 for odd conductors 133 and 134, relay 122 allots'rst choice to the secondary subgroup B associated with wires IB and 2B, which condition remains unchanged ung til start relay 10| is released and is again op-r erated. At its contacts 3, relay 122 preparesnaholding circuit for itself and relay 120, and an operating circuit for the next succeeding relay Choice position C moval of ground potential from conductor 131,A

opening its associated connections (wires fIA-andflastra/pol ",Succeeding choice positions As start relay, I. operates and releases, a newv one of the 'relays`12I to 130operates responsive preceding relay remains operated; land the-relay precedingithatrestores, whereby. rst choice is allotted successively tothe succeeding subgroups.

'Choice position I fThe l-allo'tting operation continues Ainllthe amanner indicated up to the operation of the ninth allotter relay 129 to allot rst choice to the secondary subgroup associated with wires II and 2I, at which time the eighth allotter relay '|28 remains operated, and the seventh allotter relay 121 restores. Relay 120 is at this time maintained operated in the operating circuit of the lower winding of relay 129, and in series with the upper winding of the preceding relay 128.

Final choice position When relay 1 I8 next restores responsive to the release of start relay 19|, the resultant grounding of even conductor 13B operates relay 130, and holds relay 129, through contacts 3 of the latter relay. At the same time, relay 123 is opencircuited and restored. Relay 120 restores at this point since operating current for relay 130, and holding current for relay 129, is supplied directly to relay 129 rather than over conductor 135 and through the winding of relay 12D. Crcuit connections are thus prepared for the reoperation of relay 121 to begin a new cycle. It will be observed that relay 13o has its armatures I and 2 connected respectively with armatures I and 2 of relay 129, whereby the first-choice allotment of the subgroup A associated with the last wires II and 21 remains during the tenth operation of the group controller. This arrangement is employed because there are an odd number of secondary subgroups. When there is an even number, such as ten, the final relay, such as 130, initially allots first choice to the final secondary subgroup rather than reallotting rst choice thereto.

With relay 130 operated and relays 1I8 and 120 restored, the next reoperation of relay 1I8 begins a new cycle. At this time relay 130 restores and relay 12| reoperates through contacts of the restored relay 1'29 to begin a new cycle of choice-allotting operations.

I claim:

l. In combination, a pair of electromagnetic relays, each having an operating winding and a restoring winding, means for energizing the operating windings alternately, each relay being operable responsive to an energization of its operating winding and being arranged to remain operated by residual magnetism after its operating winding is deenergized, the second relay having contacts operable therewith for placing the restoring winding of the first relay in parallel with the operating Winding thereof, the first relay having contacts operable with a restoration thereof for placing the restoring winding of the second relay effectively in series with the operating winding thereof, each restoring winding opposing its associated operating winding and being of a power sufficient to cause restoration of the concerned relay when both windings are energized together, but insuiiicient to cause reoperation thereof.

. 2.' Jin-'iz clninbina'tion,` a pair offelectromagnetic 1 relaysfeach! having"lani operating winding-'end Afa irestoringrwindingi-means for energizing' the 1 operating windings alternately to' operatelthe' relayslalternately,ifeach relay being arranged tore- `main opera-tedY by residual magnetism? after' its oper-ating- -winding is deenergized; each relay havfingconta'ctsfior Vplacing the restoring winding Afof the other frelay' in vcircuitwith the operating winding thereon each -restoring =`winding opposof. a.' power sufiicient to Y causeV `restoration-- off the *concerned* relay I when both "windings" -areA energized together, but insuflicient to cause reoperation thereof.

3. In a cyclic control circuit, first and second relays each including an electromagnet and contacts controlled thereby, each relay requiring an effective flow of operating current through its electromagnet to operate its contacts and requiring an effective ow of restoring current through its electromagnet to restore them, rst and second control wires and means for energizing them alternately in succession, means responsive to any said energization of the first control wire subject to the contacts of the second relay being in a restored condition for applying an effective operating current to the first relay, means responsive to any said energization of the second control wire subject to the contacts of the rst relay being in an operated condition for applying an effective operating current to the second relay, means responsive to any said energization of the rst control wire subject to the contacts of the second relay being operated for applying an effective restoring current to the first relay, and means responsive to any said energization of the second control wire subject to the contacts of the first relay being in a restored condition for applying an effective restoring current to the second relay.

4. In combination, a repeatedly operable device, a series of relays each including an electromagnet and contacts operable responsive to an energization thereof and requiring holding current through the electromagnet to maintain them operated, said series including a normally connected rst relay and normally disconnected succeeding relays, means for supplying operating current to the relays successively in cycles during any one of which a separate relay of the series receives operating current responsive to each operation of the device, said means including contacts operable with each said relay preceding the last for preparing an operating circuit for the next succeeding one, means effective during each cycle for restoring the relays successively beginning with the operation of the third one, and ending with the reoperation of the first relay at the start of the next succeeding cycle, at which time the final two relays are restored, the last named means including means external to the series of relays for disconnecting the first relay coincidental with the operation of the second relay and for maintaining it disconnected until a new cycle is about to start, and including means for holding any relay except the last operated in the operating circuit of the next succeeding one.

5. In combination, a repeatedly operable device, a series of relays each including an electromagnet and contacts controlled thereby, each relay including a normally connected first relay and normally disconnected succeeding relays, each relay having an operate winding and each relay preceding the last having a hold winding,

eenzaam lv'means-.for energizing the operate lwindings for Y operating the relays successivelyfin cycles during any one of which a separate relay operates responsive to each operation of the device, said means including contacts operable with eachsaidV relay preceding the last for connecting the next succeeding onel means eiective coincidental with the operation of each relay succeeding the rst l for deenergizing the operate winding of the im- Y mediately preceding relay, any said `hold Winding being included in circuit With the operate JOHN I. BELLAr/IY.

5 REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of this patent: g

UNITED STATES PATENTS K 10 Number Name y Date 2,225,680 Boswau Dec. 24, 1940 2,436,339 Taylor Feb. 17, 1948 2,444,039 r 'Goddard June 29, 1948 

